Two Mid-South men with strong white-supremacy beliefs are in custody after planning a state-to-state killing spree, targeting black citizens and ending with the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., near Jackson, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark., hatched their plan after they met on the Internet last month and discussed their shared interest in "White Power" and "Skinhead" philosophies, officials said.

"The individuals began discussing going on a 'killing spree' that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African-Americans," according to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Brian Weaks of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "The numbers 88 and 14 have special significance within the 'White Power' movement."

The two men had accumulated a sawed-off shotgun, pistols and a .308-caliber rifle and planned to attack an unnamed, predominantly black school and end with an attack on Obama.

"Schlesselman states that they planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama, shooting at him from the windows," the affidavit said.

"Both individuals stated they would dress in all-white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt. Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."

A spokeswoman for Obama had no comment.

Cowart and Schlesselman, who were arrested Wednesday in Crockett County, appeared in federal court Monday in Memphis. They are in custody and have a hearing Thursday when a judge will determine whether to set a bond.

According to federal authorities, Cowart and Schlesselman planned to travel state to state to finance their plan with home invasions and stockpile weapons by robbing gun dealers.

Last Tuesday, armed with knives and handguns, they targeted a home in Bells just northwest of Jackson, but aborted the robbery plan when they encountered a dog in the backyard and two vehicles next to the house, officials said.

Later they went to a Wal-Mart in Brownsville where they bought food, nylon rope and two ski masks to use in their next home-invasion attempt or gun-store robbery, authorities said.

While in that area early Wednesday, Cowart used a .22-caliber pistol to shoot out a window at Beech Grove Church of Christ, a 60-member black church.

Nelson Bond, the church secretary and treasurer, said no one was at the church when the shot was fired.

Members found the bullet had shattered the glass in the church's front door when they arrived for evening Bible study. "We have been on this site for about 120 years, and we have never had a problem like this before," said Bond, a member for 45 years.

Authorities said that after the men returned to the Bells area, they bought window chalk and wrote racially motivated words and symbols on Cowart's vehicle, including a Swastika and the numbers 14 and 88.

The numbers are symbols in skinhead culture, referring to a 14-word phrase attributed to an imprisoned white supremacist: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children" and to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H. Two 8's or H's stand for "Heil Hitler."

"It is critical that the alleged plot was interrupted," said James Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of ATF in Nashville. "We give credit to the deputies of Crockett and Haywood counties. All forces of law enforcement have come together to stop this threat."

The two men are charged with making threats against a major candidate for the office of president, conspiracy to rob a federal firearms licensee and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.